WELCOME MESSAGE
Welcome to SBBU
Greetings Everyone
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the 4th Spartan Baby Badass Ultra(“ SBBU”) Bedfordview Challenge and the 6th SBBU Challenge in total. Who would ever have thought that there are so many lunatics wanting to push themselves through their limits by running either 100 kilometres or 100 miles over the course of a full 24 hours – self supported! Luckily there are plenty around – many of whom have heard about the SBBU.
Last year was a busy and incredible year for the SBBU, having not only hosted the 3rd( and largest) SBBU in Bedfordview, but also having launched two new SBBU formats – a youth Challenge in Cape Town and a School / Team / Trail Challenge in Treverton College – both of which were extremely successful and which we will be looking to grow in 2025.
One of the great things about the SBBU is that whilst it’ s not a Challenge for everyone and that success is unlikely, it’ s not a race against your fellow Spartan Baby wannabies, it is solely a Challenge against yourself. It’ s not about being the fastest in any particular loop or over the 24 hours in total – it’ s simply about finding it with yourself to finish your 4.167 kilometres( or miles) within the allotted hour and then ensuring you make it back to the start line before the end of the war cry to repeat the exercise- 24 times! There will be many times when your mind and body are asking“ WHY?” and begging you to stop – particularly in the early hours of the morning – and that’ s when you will need to find the answer- and that’ s when you will grow – not necessarily as a runner but definitely as a person.
Exceeding our limits is one of the key reasons that we take on the SBBU – another is to help children suffering with cancer and their families by supporting CHOC through the CHOC Cows. Proceeds from the Challenge, together with the incredible donations our Challengers raise, are given to this incredible charity and then administered through the CHOC Cows to help with specific agreed on projects. Before the start of our 2025 fundraising initiatives, we have raised a little under R1.1 million to support these brave children and their families. What more could us Challengers want? We help ourselves grow and we help those most in need.
The SBBU simply wouldn’ t be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors who take care of the majority of the costs of the Challenge and our very kind volunteers who selflessly give up their time to ensure our Challengers are safe and taken care of during the 24 hours. My heartfelt thanks go out to you – you’ re all incredible!
So, with the days leading up to the Challenge( and the infamous cow bells and war cries) rapidly disappearing, I would like to wish the 57 brave Challengers who have heeded the call for duty much strength and resolve to see you through the Challenge and I look forward to lining up alongside you. You’ re all legends!
A-woo! A-woo! A-woo Johnny Cobra
4 SPARTAN BABY BADASS ULTRA 2025